Staff Reporter
Government has started the exhumation of the remains of bodies washed away by Rusitu River due to Cyclone Idai floods from Dombe, Sussundenga and Moussorize, and Espungabeira districts of Mozambique
Speaking in a post Cabinet briefing yesterday, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa said Ambassador to Mozambique, Victor Matemadanda held consultations with the Mozambican officials and Traditional Leaders which have resulted in the exhumations of 31 Zimbabwean bodies. A team comprising of pathologists, Zimbabwe Republic Police forensic officials, Zimbabwe National Army and Civil Registry is also in Mozambique for the exhumations.
“The nation is being informed that following a Cabinet decision to exhume bodies of victims of Cyclone Idai that were swept to Mozambique through the Rusitu River, a team comprising pathologists, the Zimbabwe Republic Police forensic officials, the Zimbabwe National Army and the Civil Registry was set up to carry out the exhumations. The team, assisted by the Zimbabwean Ambassador to Mozambique Ambassador Matemadanda, held consultations with Mozambican officials and traditional leadership before carrying out a total of 31 exhumations. The Traditional Leadership and the grave diggers were paid tokens of appreciation for assisting in the burial of the victims,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
Minister Mutsvangwa also said remains will be stored at Chimoio Provincial Hospital as government awaits DNA test results which will be carried out in Zimbabwe by the National University of Science and Technology’s Applied Genetic Testing Centre in collaboration with the AiBST Laboratory. The two laboratories have since collected samples from the families who lost their loved ones during the disaster. Remains of the deceased will be transported and stored in Zimbabwe prior to the release of DNA results.
In order to lessen the burden of reburial of the deceased by loved ones, government resolved to declare the missing persons dead so as to facilitate acquisition of the relevant documentation at the Civil Registry Department and the subsequent registration of the deceased persons’ estates. All positively identified remains be conveyed to Mutare General Hospital in order to reduce costs for the grieving families and that a mopping-up exercise will be undertaken to identify burial sites and conduct exhumations on the other side of the Rusitu River. Government has also declared to provide State-assisted burials to the bereaved families.
